Rita Harkin

Rita Harkin is the Development Manager for Northern Ireland.  

From 2000 to 2013 Rita fronted the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, leading it on high profile planning casework and campaigns, she also developed its education and traditional building skills programmes.  Prior to that she was employed as Heritage Officer with Belfast City Council; a researcher with Rachel Bevan Architects; and Northern Ireland Development Officer for the Ecology Building Society.
She currently serves on the board of Hearth Revolving Fund, Northern Ireland’s first BPT, and the Irish Landmark Trust, which saves and restores historic buildings to provide holiday accommodation. She has an MA in Town Planning from Edinburgh College of Art and a Royal Society of Ulster Architects’ Diploma in Historic Building Conservation. Rita was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to study best practice in universal access to historic buildings in Scandinavia and the United States.

Before becoming an AHF Support Officer in 2017, Rita was the AHF's Northern Ireland Trustee.